70s Nightclub Fashion Makes a Comeback: Fuzzy Coats Are the Festive Season's Key Piece
While the iconic New York nightclub Studio 54 shut its doors nearly four decades ago, its distinct fashion influence remains powerful.
Currently, the spotlight isn't on sheer bodysuits but on the furry, shaggy coats and wraps worn by style icons and party enthusiasts alike.
With the holiday social calendar approaching, the signature Studio 54 coat is experiencing a major resurgence.
Retail Statistics Shows the Trend
Among the most popular items from a latest partnership between a major retailer and a designer brand is a short, cream, shaggy jacket with oversized lapels.
At another retailer, online queries for taupe faux fur coats have surged 190% compared to last year.
Interest for secondhand fuzzy finds is also soaring, with queries for faux fur increasing by over 250% in the past six months on a major secondhand website.
"This is a one and done coat," notes a senior fashion editor, explaining that it serves as the central piece of an ensemble.
The editor likes to style her personal colossal furry coat with hipster jeans or leggings and short shorts.
Screen Style Echoes the Look
This aesthetic is showcased in a latest streaming romcom series, where a character sports a toffee-colored fuzzy jacket to a casual dinner.
When questioned about her daring outfit, the character replies, "It's what you said to look fancy. It's fashion!"
Emergence of the "Glamorous" Vibe
This look aligns with what an American trend forecaster is calling "glam excess."
Inspired by the extravagance and excess of the 1980s New York, this vibe brings to mind wads of cash, bubbly, smoking, short skirts, carefree attitudes and, of course, fur.
Similar to that time, the trend is emerging during a uncertain economy.
Boom boom is very much about dressing for the lifestyle you dream of rather than the one you have to endure.
Modern Materials and Tongue-in-Cheek Luxury
While animal fur was omnipresent during Studio 54's peak, current versions are primarily made from lambskin—a byproduct of the meat industry—or man-made materials like polyester.
The trend embodies a tongue-in-cheek opulence—as if a famous Muppet has taken over with overblown silhouettes and unexpected colors.
Star Endorsement and Limited Releases
An English creator was an early instigator of this trend. Her shaggy coats with curly textures have been sported by famous pop stars.
Due to high demand, these coats are now only sold in limited drops. An forthcoming launch includes a rose and charcoal version similar to a giant pom-pom, as well as animal and zebra-print options with exaggerated fuzzy frou-frou.
"If you can only purchase one thing, you wouldn't choose it to be a plain sweater or a pair of boring trousers, you want a standout piece," says a magazine head.
The sentiment is shared by a style head at a major store, who describes it "an unexpected, playful element" that doesn't require a complete ensemble.
Final Spirit Lifter
In the end, the shaggy coat can act as a fantastic pick-me-up.
"It doesn't have to cost a fortune," notes the editor, "and it's going to make you feel glamorous when everything else is rather gloomy."